National Republican., 1887-09-13
THE WATER SUPPLY.
Citizens Committee Interview the
ComnIsaioparsJ Tn ReRnrd IN II.

Commissioners In Regard to It.
The water committee OF the Committee
Of One Hundred, comprising Messrs W. II.
Singleton, Josiah Millard. Abraham Depue,
A. @. Richards, Thomas somerville, and L..
W. Richie, held lengthy interview with
the commissioners yesterday. Mr.. Single
ton presented the following questions TO
tire commissioners, which were answered by
the commissioners In an informal way and
will again be replied to In writing;
/. What law is referred to In report OF com.
missioDers OF District of Columbia 1885, p. %,
last paragraph, line AZ Please give date of act
or acts,
oils 1t a positive enactment Tor simply an In
ference Of the Dlstrict authorities that tue
law requires that the water rentals must meet
all District expenditures for the water serviceP'
.. What law directs that water rentals must
paw one'half OF the principal or sinking fund
ior the cost OF the new aqueduct aud its ad'
i. ofihe s572S9t2 paid in 1887 for interest
and sinking iund for increased water supply"
how much was principal and how nuch was
s. What total amount Is there contemplated
| paying in 1883, and what amount for principal
| and what amount for INTEREST,"
6. ffobtsiuable what is the total of water
| rentals collected this year!
| 2. Have the water rentals been increased
simply to provide sufficient "reyenue for
| keeping up a supply OF water" and for the In :
! creased expense In the maintenance, manage
| ment, and repair Of the system of water dis
trbution." as provided In section lgs, Revised
| Statutes District OF Columbia and for interest
on nchalt of the cost Of the new aqueduci
and adjuncts," as provided for IN the act oi
July 70, 1889, and for no other purpose?
| 8. If so, whnt are the items OF increased
expense by subject and amount?
| o. What were the amounts of the items OF eX.
pendiluT@es res IN query Tor 1887 aud what VIII
| ii. If the Increase has been made to meet
other expenses, what are they aud the amounts
| OF each?
from water rentals has been used for layinN
mains or for any other purpose than for tho
maintenance. management and repair OF hi
| system OF water distrioution?'
| ss.l2 II so. please state items by year, amour
and object on which expended from 1874 u
is Has the revenue derived from the water
| main tax been used for any other purpose thar
the laying down of water mains?
u. n SO, please state items, by year. amount
and object on which expended from 1874 Il
| date.
IS. A detailed statement OF expense oflaylni
the water mains. and q detailed statement o
the expense of maintaining, managing, ant
| repairing the water system for 1887, aud au,
1 16. Whether, after citizen lays waite
main and pays for such laying az his own ex
pensc, the adjacent property is then taxed 70
II, ifso, what Is the law which authorize
| such tax, after the cost of laying the main ha
| been borne by the citizen who has 1t laid?
| Is. Statements furnished by the commission
ers and printed In the Erenfng star Aug.9, 1887
says that from 1850 to 1856 the receipts from
water main taxes were Sl2 ,69i 80, and the ex
pense OF laying mains were sSS,022.O. 1
this correct?
10. II So why has there been recommended
IN increase in the water main taxes, ,especial
in view of section 203, Revised Statutes, Dis
trct of Columbia?
20. And for such other and further informa
tion upon this subject as may seem At.
In answer to the questions the commits
siopers stated that they had decided h
change the domestic water rates. Th
charge is made on the size Of the front O
house, sixteen feet front and two stories
high being the unit Of charge, aud SO. 8
was made the basis. They stated that nj
increase was needed to lay an additiona
plant. They denied using any Of the waite
revenues for purposes other than for tn
maintenance of the water department. TIL
commissioners held that there was no lega
distinction between the water main tax an
water main rental. 1t was also admitte
that they could not collect a tax on prop
erty on q street supplied by q service pip
until the main was laid on the street.